THE CRIMSON PLAYGOER

The "Merry Widow" with Beppie De Vries and Donald Brian, the original Prince Danilo, if it does nothing more, gives some idea of the sort of things our fathers liked. There has been so much said about the splendor of this particular opus of Mr. Lehar that one is likely to form exaggerated expectations, especially if the previous revivals in this group have not been seen. The vastness of modern musical plays are very apt to make one forget that George White and Florenz Ziegfeld are unique to this generation. Therefore, those who know of this operetta only through the famous waltz are going to be particularly impressed with the thinness of something they expected to be rich in every form of theatrical entertainment.

Miss De Vries in the leading role makes a quite piquant widow in spite of her not particularly pleasant voice, and as for Donald Brian, it is impossible to imagine that he played the same part in 1907. Mr. Figman in the part of the ambassador is thoroughly amusing while the rest of the cast falls below average. The smallness of the accompanying orchestra and the fact that the costuming is modern does much to destroy the expected illusion of the grand old manner.